Track-cleaner.



N0. 64|,235. Patented Ian. 9, 1900. G. W. BUGGLES.

TRACK CLEANER. (Application filed Sept. 2, 1899.) (No Model.) 2She'ets-Shget l.

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No. 64l,235. Patented Jan. 9,1900.

I G. W. RUGGLES. TRACK CLEANER.

(Applicatioh filed Sept. 2, 1899.) (No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

PATENT Fries.

GEORGE IV. RUGGLES, OF CHARLOTTE, NEW YORK.

TRACK-CLEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,235, dated January9, I900.

Application filed September 2, 1899. Serial No. 729,322. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. RUGGLES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Charlotte, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Track-Cleaners, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification and shownin the accompanying drawings.

My invention is a track-cleaner adapted more particularly for removingsnow, the same being an improvement on Letters Patent Nos. 501,028 and580,004:, granted to me of dates, respectively, July 4, 1893, and April6, 1897.

My present improvement relates more especially to the form andconstruction of the scoop and the construction of the bucketwheels forthrowing away the snow. It relates also to improvements in various otherparts of the device, all hereinafter fully described, and moreparticularly pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the trackcleaner with parts broken away and other parts shown in variouspositions by full and dotted lines, the section being on the verticaldotted line 1 1 in Fig.3. Fig. 2 is an inner view of the end of the caror device viewed in a direction opposite that in which Fig. 1 is seen,the car-body and other parts being vertically and transverselysectioned, as on the dotted line 2 2 in Figs. 3 and 6. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation at one end of the car seen as indicated by arrow 3 in Fig.1,parts being shown in two positions by full and dotted lines. Fig. 4 is afront view of a bucket-wheel detached, a part of one hub being brokenaway. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a bucket-wheel and associated partsseen as indicated by arrow 5 in Fig.4, the scoop and other parts beinglongitudinally sectioned, as on the dotted line 5" 5 in Fig. 1. Fig. 6is a plan of one end of the car with a part broken away and other partssectioned, as on the dotted line 6 in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectionof a wheel-shaft and associated parts on the axis of a blade. Fig. Sis atransverse section of the blade-holders on the dotted line 8 8 in Fig.7. Fig. 9 is a view at the outer end of a blade seen as indicated byarrow 9 in Fig.

. 1. Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the wheel-shaft adjacent to a bub, apart of the holding-cap being broken away, the view being opposite thatof Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a cross-section of a hub of a bucket-wheel on thedotted line 11 11 in Fig. 5. Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6 are drawn to a scalesmaller and Figs. 7 to 11 to a scale larger than that of Figs. 4 and 5.

In the drawings, Ais the frame of the car body, the covering, which maybe of any common kind, being omitted.

B is a combined wheel-house and scoop attached to the outer end of theframe A, made of sheet metal, within which are placed the blades 0 O andbucket-wheels D D. The house B is provided with clips a to secure it tothe frame A, engaging laterally-projecting timbers b b, said house, withthe scoop and inclosed wheels, being adapted to be moved verticallyalong the frame, as indicated in Fig. 3. This house with its containedparts may be shifted vertically by any convenient means, as across-shaft E, Figs. 2 and 3, connected with the lower part of the houseor scoop by cables 0, the shaft being operated bya lever F. This leveris provided with a pawl d, adapted to engage a ratchet e, rigid with theshaft, the latter being further controlled by means of a detent-pawl fnear its end engaging a ratchet g on the shaft. In this device there aretwo similar blade -wheels, formed of series of blades 0, to first actupon the snow and two equal bucket wheels D D to dispose of the snow.These various wheels are placed in pairs upon parallel horizontahshaftsG G-a bucket-wheel coacting with a blade-wheelat the inner ends of theshafts there being sprocket-wheels h h, Figs. 2, 3, and 6.

A main longitudinal driving-shaft H for the snow-controlling mechanismis held in bearings on cross-timbers I I of the frame A and provided atits end with a sliding clutch 11, operated by a simple forked lever is.A coacting clutch Z, journaled in the frame A, is

provided with sprockets m n, which carry throwing the latter away fromthe track, the snow being thrown out through one or the other of theopenings S S in the sides of the wheel-house B. As shown in Fig. 5, eachwheel consists of four sections K L N 0, each section having sevenequally-spaced buckets. The buckets of the forward section K aredesignated by 1, those of the next section L by 2, and 3 and l designatethe buckets of the remaining sections N and 0, respectively. The bucketsare each formed of two similar metal plates or leaves as w, facing eachother, Figs. t and 11, secured to hubs w by bolts y, these leaves beingcurved, as shown. The hubs are formed with flanged radial projections.2, on the opposite sides of each of which are placed the leaves at w,as shown, the leaves being inserted between the flanges a, which preventedgewise movements of the leaves.

In placing the sections upon the shaft to form a complete wheel they areso arranged that the buckets of each section from forward to rear are inadvance of (or in rear of, according to the direction in which the wheelis turning) the blades of the next adjacent section, so that when viewedfrom in front twenty'eight buckets appear equally spaced around theshaft, as shown in Fig. 4. Now if the wheel be turning in the directionindicated by the arrow (also indicated by the arrows on the blades inFig. 1) the buckets of the several sections will engage the snow in theorder 1 3 2 1that is to say, blade 4; will deliver its charge of snowfirst, being followed by blades 3 2 1 in succession, blade 1 beingitself followed by the next blade 4-, which regular actions upon thesnow will continue while the wheel rotates, there being no break in theregular intervals at which masses of snow are thrown out of thewheel-house. This dividing up of the snow, forced back into the scoop bythe inclined blades 0, is found to be advantageous, as the bucket-wheelswork more freely and evenly than when the buckets are each formedcontinuous from front to rear, as shown in the Letters Patent abovementioned, and there is less liability of sudden stresses being thrownupon the parts. The blades 0 are adapted to be turned in their seats inthe hubs Z) to either of two previously-arranged inclined positions,asshown,

according to the direction in which it is wished v .to revolve thewheels and deliver the snow.

The parts of the jaws 01, holding the blades proper, entering the hubsare made cylindrical, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and formed withtransverse recesses o, in which to receive the ends of screws 6. Thesescrews, while not interfering with the shifting of the blades to theirdifferent positions, prevent the blades from being thrown out bycentrifugal action. Cylindrical caps f are provided for the projectingends of the hubs I), being joined rigidly to the hubs by clamp-screws g,occupying transverse slots 71 in the caps. The jaws d are square incross-section where they pass through the caps, as shown in Fig. 9,

each cap and its blade turning together. The outer projecting end ofeach hub b is formed with a sectoral depression 11, Figs. 8 and 10,having shoulders 7a, and the cap is formed with a part Z, projectinginto said depression. The part Z has shoulders n, adapted to meet theshoulders 70. of the hub, there being free space 0 between, so that whenthe blade is shifted either way two shoulders meet and determine itsposition.

The scoop T is made straight and without flare at its corners, thelatter being circular or cylindrical and concentric with the respectivewheel-shafts G G, all horizontal lines of the scoop being parallel. Iregard as being important, as when thus constructed it meets with verymuch less resistance than those shown in my patents above mentioned whenforced against solid bodies of snow. I am enabled to form the scoop inthe manner here shown by employing twin blade and bucket wheels arrangedside by side, as shown, instead of a single central wheel, as shown insaid patents. The scoop and the wheel-house constitute a singlestructure, the metal sheetforming the scoop proper extending upward atits ends to form sides of the wheel-house, though I do not confinemyself to this exact manner of constructing the parts. The rear side ofthe wheel-house is formed by wood or metal sheeting 19', secured to theframe, in which the rear ends of the shafts 1" have bearings.

By employing two sets of wheels abreast and two shafts the latter may beset farther apart and the scoop built wider if it is wished for anypurpose to cut a wider way through banks of snow. On account of thisconstruction the machine may be adapted to clear a wide way through thesnow withoutadding to the height of the car, for the .wheels acting onthe snow do not need to be increased in diameter. This feature of theinvention is desirable, for on account of bridges under which the car isliable to pass and for other reasons it is desirable to keep thecar-body low, though cutting a wide channel through the snow.

In constructing the scoop there is usually employed a horizontalcross-tree r, Figs. 1 and 5, to which to secure the front bearings s ofthe shafts G G, the rear bearings being secured conveniently to a timberof the frame A.

Deflectors P and R are employed over the bucket-wheels to control thedelivery of the snow out of the wheel-house. These deflectors are heldto turn upon horizontal shafts 0', Figs. 1 and 6, so as to occupy higheror lower positions, as indicated, depending upon where it is wished todeliver the snow relative to the track. These deflectors may be operatedby any convenient mean s -as, for example, cords s .9, connected withthe deflectors and extending upward overpulleys in frames or bracketstton top of the wheel-house, thence extending within the car, andsecured to some simple fasteners 20 it. At their lower ends the de Thisform of scoop IIO flectors normally rest against inturned parts t of thewheel house, Fig. 1, to close the space above the bucket-wheels. Eitherone of the deflectors is raised, as above stated, when it is wished tothrow out snow.

Some simple form of tighteners it a, Fig. 2, are employed for the chains0 Q), to act when the scoop is raised, as above described. The raisingof the wheel-house ar d scoop tends to cause the chains to become slack,and to keep them in reasonable tension the tighteners are provided.These tighteners act by gravity, they being adapted to slide verticallyin ways i), secured to the wall 19 of the car.

This track-cleaning car is designed to be a double ender, there beingsnow-clearing apparatus at both ends, only one end of which is shown,and the car is designed to be a motor, propelled by some ordinary means,as an electric current. also turned by means common to such devices.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a track-cleaner, a pair of equalbladewheels placed side by side, on parallel shafts, means for turningsaid shafts, bucket-wheels on the shafts back of the blade-wheels, and ascoop within which said wheels and shafts are disposed, said scoophaving cylindrical corners each concentric with the periphery of one setof blade and bucket wheels and its shaft, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the scoop of a trackcleaner, a pair ofblade-wheels, and a pair of bucket-wheels coacting with theblade-wheels, and an inclosure for the bucket-wheels, with means formoving the parts in vertical directions, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. The bucket-wheel of a track-cleaner, having a hub provided withprojections, and radially-disposed leaves secured to said projections inpairs, said leaves being alike and each pair constituting a bucket,substantially as set forth.

4. The bucket-wheel of a track-cleaner,having a hub provided withflanged radial projections equally spaced around the axis, and a seriesof similar leaves or plates secured to said projections in pairs, theleaves of each pair facing each other and curved together at their outerends, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The bucket-wheel of a track-cleaner, formed of a series of similarhubs each havin g flanged radial projections equally spaced, and aseries of similar leaves or plates secured The driving-shaft H is tosaid projections in pairs forming buckets, the buckets of each hub beingoifset from or in advance of the buckets of the adjacent hub,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A scoop for a track-cleaner composed of a single piece and madestraight without flare at the corners which latter are cylindrical withthree straight parts two of which extend upward from the said cornersand the other connecting said corners, combined with two parallel shaftsjournaled lengthwise of the scoop each with its blades of its wheelsmounted to revolve concentric with and adjacent to one of said corners,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A. device of the kind described, having a pair of snow-controllingshafts and sprocketwheels thereon, in combination with a driving-shaftwith sliding clutch a coacting nonsliding clutch formed with sprockets,and chains for said sprockets, substantially as shown and set forth.

8. The bucket-wheel of a track-cleaner,having a hub, andradially-disposed leaves or plates secured to the hub in pairs, theleaves of each pair together constituting a bucket.

9. The bucket-wheel of a track-cleaner,hav ing a series of hubs, andleaves secured in pairs to the peripheries of said hubs, each pairconstitutingabucket, the buckets of one hub being in advance of thebuckets of the adjacent hub.

10. The bucket-wheel of a track-cleaner, having a hub formed withequally-spaced peripheral projections and a series of similar leavessecured to said projections in pairs, the leaves of each pair beingparallel next the hub and curved together at their ends, each pair ofleaves constituting a bucket, substantially as shown.

11. A combined scoop and wheel-house for a track-cleaner, composed of asingle piece and made straight without flare at the corners which latterare cylindrical with three straight parts two of which extend upwardfrom the corners to form the sides of the scoop and portions of thewheel-house and the other connecting said corners, all substantially asshown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 30th day of August,1899, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEO. W. RUGGLES.

Witnesses:

ENos B. WHITMORE, M. L. WINSTON.

